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Travels with Tucker

I'm not John Steinbeck and Tucker is certainly no Charley. But after our first year together travelling over 14,000 miles, criss-crossing America, hitting 17 states, I thought it was about time we started documenting our adventures.

Finding Your Church

7/1/2017

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Perusing a “Hikes in New Mexico” book I had picked up at REI, I came across Rio en Medio (literally, “river in the middle.”) I cross-checked it with alltrails and discovered that dogs were welcome. Since it wasn’t in the top ten of “dog friendly hikes,” I hoped I could find peace and solace there.

Another “neighborhood trail,” like Bishop’s Lodge, we drove down residential dirt roads until one came to an abrupt end at a small area for cars and an entrance to the trail.
There were a few people milling about, and it appeared the three groups of people were together. We spoke, negotiating a way to place our cars so they all fit and no one was blocked in. While we played Tetris with automobiles, I noticed a woman holding the collar of an Australian Shepherd puppy standing next to the trail. I hoped she was holding the collar because someone else was looking for the leash in the car. Probably not.

Tucker wanted to greet the young pup, and the woman held onto the dog’s collar. Luckily the cacophony of smells emanating from the trail made Tucker abandon his quest for friendship and pull me hard onto the path. The group with the shepherd had three kids, a dog and a few adults. It would take them some time to get coordinated and start on the hike.

As is normal for Tucker when he’s excited, not far along the path he had to stop and take a dump. (What can I say? The boy holds his emotions in his intestines.)

These few moments is all it took for the large group to catch up. I saw the shepherd leading the way, and since there was barbed wire on one side of the trail, I hauled Tucker up with the side of the mountain on the other side of the trail to let them pass. They did call their pup back and he responded, but I politely told them they should go ahead. I didn’t want to be rushed.
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There were a few awkward minutes of Tucker balking at the leash to meet up with the pup, but once we stopped for a long enough time, they were far enough ahead that the present smells of nature were far more interesting than a dog up the path.
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We were finally alone on the trail—just the way I like it.
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It was indeed shady, with a few moments of the woods opening up to see the mountains surrounding us.
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In order to get to the waterfall, the main feature of the river in the middle, one had to actually climb through the river itself. No pictures were taken as it took both hands to hold on and not fall in. Tucker and I went slowly on this natural obstacle course. The group with the shepherd wasn’t too far ahead anymore, and I listened closely as the patriarch suggested footholds for his daughters and offered them a hand to steady themselves.
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Although most likely easier to do with a dog off leash, I still kept Tucker tethered to me. The river was really a deep gorge in a canyon, and we couldn’t see around the bend.
Nature provided quite a climax. The canyon walls suddenly opened up and there before us was a waterfall.
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Getting photos was difficult since children always take the lead and I didn’t want photos of Tucker with children splashing around. And then there was the shepherd. Now on leash, he was as far into the waterfall room as possible. A jack russell was immediately picked up and held when Tucker and I got there.
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Tucker kindly let me take a picture of him, but it was difficult to get his attention when he just wanted to be friends with the Aussie (who is obviously off to my left.)
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Tucker and I cooled off for a brief spell in the spray of water, and then retreated since it seemed to be more of a family affair in the waters.
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Tucker pretended to be king of the waterfall, overlooking the scene and then fantasy completed, we returned to the trail.
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Rio de Medio renewed my faith in my ability to find hikes Tucker and I could do. Our repertoire was rather small, given our lack of acclimation to the elevation, the mostly steep and quick elevation gains on hikes, and the vast desert landscape. On the trail, a woman picked up her little dog and while passing commented on what a good, well-behaved dog Tucker was. I thanked her for the compliment and realized that I am often too hard on the kid. But he’s a pit bull. He needs to be 110% well-behaved. No errors. No mistakes. No rash decisions.

The woman warned me of an off leash dog up ahead, and I thanked her.

I’d like to believe that the number of responsible owners is far greater than the number of people who let their dogs run off leash with no regard for laws or for the safety of others. At least I hope that’s the case when it comes to hiking. After all, this is my sanctuary and my church. I imagine it is the same for others. It deserves respect and reverence. Yes, it is a place to play and have fun. But it’s also a place of peace and solace. It can be both simultaneously.
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Remember that when you start down a trail, you have entered a sacred place for many. There are trails where your dogs are free to run and pounce. If that’s the kind of experience that is sacred to you, please go to those trails. For those of us on on-leash trails, we’re here for that experience, for that sanctuary. There are more churches in nature than there are religions in the world. Find yours, visit yours, and if you visit someone else’s, please be mindful and respect their traditions.
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    2016.01.03 Home For The Holidays
    2016.01.04 A Hike On Another Planet
    2016.03.25 Equality Is For Everyone
    2016.03.27 Our Easter Weekend Services
    2016.04.15 Just Des(s)erts
    2016.05.29 Max Patch
    2016.05.29 Rising To The Peak
    2016.05.29 Spring Adventures
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    2016.06.25 The Ghostly Tale Of Greybeard Trail
    2016.07.03 Escape...to Storyteller Rock
    2016.07.05 A Salute To Asheville From Chimney Rock
    2016.08.15 Up
    2016.10.01 Since You've Been Gone
    2016.12.09 How We Spent Our Summer Vacation
    2016.12.10 Let The Sun Shine In
    2016.12.11 Eyes To The Skies
    2016.12.11 Where The Rainy Day Takes You
    2016.12.18 Waiting For Whistler
    2016.12.31 Only In Canada
    2017.01.10 Christmas On The Coast
    2017.01.11 Christmas On The Coast
    2017.04.22 Out Of The Desert And Into The Land Of Enchantment
    2017.05.05 Someplace To Be; Not Somewhere To Go
    2017.05.20 New Canada
    2017.05.28 Rise To The Challenge
    2017.06.18 Exploring The 'Hood
    2017.06.24 Bishop's Lodge: Anything But Heavenly
    2017.07.01 Finding Your Church
    2017.07.08 Mother Nature's Springs
    2017.07.22 Beside Every Great Woman
    2017.10.15 Finding (Water)Fall(s)
    2017.10.28 This Is 40... Part I
    2017.10.29 This Is 40... Part II
    2017.11.18 Battle Amidst Beauty
    2017.11.25 To The Looking Glass
    2018.02.25 Where The Dog Takes You
    2018.03.31 After The Rains
    2018.04.14 Truly Home Again
    2018.06.02 Just A Walk On The Beach
    2018.07.21 Ready? On Set!
    2018.08.04 Return To The Redwoods
    2018.08.11 Return To The Redwoods
    2018.10.27 The Forty-First
    2018.12.15 The End Of The Tour
    2018.12.30 Santa Cruz
    2019.01.05 Chasing Mavericks
    2019.01.20 Finding Your Soulspace
    2019.02.09 Muir Magic
    2019.02.23 The Point Of Point Reyes
    2019.02.25 From Muir To Mori
    2019.03.02 Our Own Monterey
    2019.03.09 An Irish Escape
    2019.03.16 Hidden Vistas
    2019.04.06 Our Life: The Carnival
    2019.04.20 One Man's Trash Is Another Dog's Art
    2019.05.04 Black Rock And Blue Skies
    2019.06.08 Water
    2019.06.15 In Conversation... With Nature
    2019.06.29 Go Tell It On The Mountain
    2019.07.06 Not So Yosemite
    2019.07.07 Magic Chimneys
    2019.07.20 The Long Way Around
    2019.11.23 All Trails Lead Here
    2019.11.30 Seeking Solitude In All Directions
    2019.12.14 Forest Friends And Soul-Places
    2019.12.21 The San Franciscan Canine
    2019.12.26 An Unexpected Christmas
    2020.01.11 Kicking Off The New Year On The Coast: Part I
    2020.01.12 Kicking Off The New Year On The Coast: Part II
    2020.01.12 Kicking Off The New Year On The Coast: Part III
    2020.01.19 From The Beach To The Bay... Almost
    2020.03.01 Livin' La Vida Local (SF Style)
    2020.03.20 A Place In Which To Shelter
    2020.03.23 Socially Distant
    2020.03.26 Shelter Of Majestic Beauty
    2020.03.28 Follow Your Heart
    2020.04.04 South For The Spring
    2020.04.21 Finding The Way Back
    2020.05.11 First Rate Second Choice
    2020.05.30 Trails Worth Taking
    2020.07.15 A Reflection Of The Bay
    2020.07.22 A Quarter Of The Way To Half Moon Bay
    2020.10.10 Mountain Air
    2020.11.21 The Great Donut Drive
    2020.11.26 Holiday Special
    2020.12.21 The Great Conjunction
    2020.12.25 The Magic In Every Day
    2020.12.31 Some Other Beginning's End
    2021.09.12 The Oregon Trail
    2021.09.18 Reaching The Summit
    2021.09.26 In Light Of Grey Skies
    2021.10.03 Adventures Need Not Be Far
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    2021.10.10 From The Sea To The Mountains
    2021.10.16 One Beaut Of A Butte
    2021.10.23 Birthday Falls
    2021.10.31 Where Angels Rest
    2021.11.07 Where Falcons Soar
    2021.11.14 To The End Of The Road... Or Island
    2021.11.20 Reflections
    2021.11.28 Giving Thanks To Mother Nature
    2021.12.05 The Journey Of The Falls
    2021.12.18 Right Here
    2021.12.26 The Magic Of Any Day
    2022.01.03 Taking Our Leave... Maybe
    2022.01.04 Beaches And Bluffs To The Redwood Forest
    2022.01.06 The City By The Bay... And Beyond
    2022.02.28 Chasing Waterfalls Again
    2022.04.06 The Beauty Along The Way
    2022.04.07 The Endless Coast
    2022.04.18 Eostre's Art
    2022.06.06 Near
    2022.06.14 Climbing A Mountain To Reach The Sea
    2022.07.11 Go South To Be North
    2022.07.18 Discovering Terranea
    2022.07.25 The Tee Off Trail
    2022.07.31 Farewell To The Westside
    2022.09.25 Fleeing The Heat For Fall
    2022.10.27 Return To The Redwoods
    2022.10.28 Commit To Adventure
    2022.10.29 Unexpected Turns
    2022.10.31 The Day After
    2022.12.26 The Mountain Temple
    2023.01.03 Back To The Bay
    And Away
    And The Day After...
    But Not Far Away
    Comes The (Water)Fall
    Everywhere
    Maximum Wind Speed
    Nose To The Wind
    Not Out There
    Not The Map
    Part I
    Part II
    Santa Clause
    Santa Paws
    The Look Of Discrimination
    The South's Answer To The Southwest
    Tucker Wescott: Interior Designer
    Up
    Water
    Yet Far

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